What happened
On Sunday, October 10, 1999, a Robin DR 340, registration F-BRCY, was positioned at the holding point for runway 25 left at Toussyl-le-Noble for a flight to Rouen. The aircraft was carrying three passengers and was fully fueled with 155 liters of fuel. During the takeoff roll, the pilot noticed that the aircraft was struggling to reach its required takeoff speed. Consequently, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff mid-runway.
During the deceleration, the pilot applied heavy pressure to the manual braking control, which acts on both the left and right landing gear brakes. After exiting the runway via the taxiway, air traffic control alerted the pilot to the presence of smoke beneath the aircraft. The occupants evacuated the plane immediately. Despite the rapid response of the fire services, a fire broke out at the left landing gear, which subsequently spread and burned the entire left wing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the braking system and the cause of the ignition. The weight and balance of the aircraft were confirmed to be within limits. An examination of the landing gear did not reveal any major malfunctions within the braking system itself. Investigators were unable to determine whether the abnormal heating of the brake disc was caused by excessive pilot input or by residual pressure remaining in the brake lines.
Findings
- The fire likely ignited due to intense heating of the brake disc.
- The proximity of the brake disc to the landing gear strut fairing and the brake line sheath provided the necessary conditions for ignition.
- Both the fairing and the brake line sheath sustained heavy damage from the fire.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the three passengers.